Amusement machine



Filed Aug. 8, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 26, 1933. J. F. MEYER AMUSEMENT MACHINE Fil-ed .Aug. 8, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jar/WWW Sept. 26, 1933. J. F. MEYER AMUSEMENT MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, 1929 j g i 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 26, 1933 e UNITED, STATES PATENT, F -Ice 1 John Meyer, Chicago, Ill. Application August 8, 1929. Serial No. 384,272

6 Claims. (01. 273-101) This invention relates to amusementmachines j Fig. 6 is .a vertical section on the line 6-6 of and it has for its primary object to provide a Fig. 1; i v novel machine of the shooting gallery type pro- Fig. '7 is a detail of the means for maintaining vided with movable and stationary targets and the a g t in up ght pos on a t y leave or more coin operated pistols combined and arthe range; Y 00" ranged in a portable machine adapted'to be dis- Fig, 8-is an enlarged detailelevation of the ball played in public and other places and to furnish receiving tray and'the counter actuating devicef entertainment and amusement to the general Fig. 91s a detail plan of the ball receiving tray" public. and the parts-related thereto;

10 Another object of the invention is to provide g lfi'is a interior d V w Of e two or more oppositely movable carriers traveling With the door open to show the'manner, in which at different speeds and having targets mounted the pisto unit s u d for Shipment; thereon. Fig. 11 is a detail section showing the manner Another object of the invention is to provide a 0f h d t -p in Operating DOSitiOII in o t plurality of movable targets pivotally mounted Of the cabinet; i to fall over when struck and means for auto- 12-is a detail Section Of the r l matically restoring the down targets to upright a d traVelillg' l the line 1 -1 0f position, Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail section on'the'line A further object of the invention is to provide 13l3 of g. I v means of simple construction for operating the g- 4: is a detail t o f ta i n ry target; 75 movable targets in a regular and orderly mannd v ner Whether or not any of the targets are struck 15 s a detail P Of the t e Uprighting 'by bails. device on the line 1515 of Fig. 5. 1

And a further object of the invention is to R e g to the drawings the invention C r construct and arrange the movable and other prises a Cabinet 1 h v in the upper p thereparts and mechanisms of the machine so that of a glass front 2 for one or m r w b the balls will not be obstructed thereby and will ing shown in e aw ngs s parated by a glass not interfere with the operation thereof and also Partition re is a (1001'. 4 at the back of the' to provide means for quickly returning the ball cabinet to permit access to the interior thereof, 30 to the pistols and without interfering with the and on or o li ts 5 a h top of the 'cabi- 5 operation thereof. net, and at the rear thereof, with a' barrier 6 dey A further object is to arrange the pistols and pending from the p of the net'in fIOIIt 0f associated parts as detachable units which can the lights to hide the lights h p c r be packed within the cabinet for shipping pur- This arrangement of the lights and the barrier" 35 poses gives the efiectof indirect lighting upon the tar- A further object is to provide an improved gets beneath the lights- The bottom of the coin receiver which will be inexpensive to manuranges s formed by an inclined plate 7'Whi h is facture and which will be very difiicult of access Suitably supported in the cabinet above the 1 y unauthorized persons erating mechanism "and adjoins at the rear a 40 A further object is to improve the construction, m Sharply inclined ISuPPOTt' which e 1 arrangement and operation of the machine transversgly of the Cabmet d pl'ovided'with shown and described in my copending applicatrick grooves 10' r h h 10' tion Serial No. 349,355, filed March 2e, 1929. the ay; i t 9"- i e' c M n grooves are pre se aong. en cen ra por-' 45 gf f W 2 a r? hetefmfatd" t tions, Fig. 12, so as not to be subject to .wear or 1 9 E* a muse-men undue friction with the fastening device which machine embodying ln nyention, hold the targets on the belts v V 1,

Fig. 2 1s a plan section on the line 22 of Forconvenience thetargets are made in I shape of animals and the targets 10" are made 50 3 1s a Vvtlsel sectlen 011 the 11119 of in the shape of birds, Each movable target con Fig. 6; sists of"a're1ative1y thin platebent laterally at Fig. 4 is a vertical detail section on the line the bottom edge to form a base 11 which is piv- 4-4 of Fig. 6; oted orhinged at 11 to a clamp 12.on the belt .Fig. 5 is a detail section of one of theta'rget' Fig. 12. This clamp is U -shapedto embrace the 55 uprighting devices; bottom, one side edge and a portion of the top,

of the belt, the bottom portion being embedded in the belt to provide a smooth surface. A rivet 12 through the belt secures the top and bottom portions of the clamp to the belt. When upright the targets incline slightly'beyond the vertical to holdthem upright when traveling through the range.

The belt 9 travels on pullels l3 and the belt 10' travels on pulleys 14, Figs. 3 and 10, these pulleys being mounted in the cabinet so that the belt'9' and its targets 9 will travel across the pistol ranges in a higher plane than the belt 10 and its targets 10". Side partitions 15 spaced from the side walls 15 of the cabinet extend forwardly from the rear door 4 of the cabinet part way to the glass front 2 of the cabinet and then extend laterally to the side walls, thus forming end compartments 15 in which the belt pulleys are positioned. Access to these end compartments is obtained through end doors'l5 The glass partition 3'is mounted on a wood base 3' which extends from front to back of the cabinet. The partitions 15 and 3 are provided with openings 16 to permit the movable targets to pass through the partitions, Figs. 3 and 6. These openings are in the pistol ranges and are preferably of just suilicient height and width to permit passage of the movable targets when they are upright. Other openings 17 of any size are provided in the partitions 15 to permit passage of the movable targets on the lower travel of the belts 9', Guide bars 18 are mounted on the partitions within the end compartments 15 adjacent the pulleys l3, l i'to hold the movable targets perpendicular as they travel aroundthe pulleys, and guide bars 19 may be provided between the partitions adjacent, the lower path of travel of the movabletargets to maintain them in perpendicular position so far as they may be necessary; Divergingguides 20 are provided at the entrance of the openings 16 to insure that the targets will enter the openings in upright position so that they may pass freely therethrough.v i 4 Powergfrom an electric motor 21 in the lower part of the cabinet is transmitted through a shaft 22,;and universal couplings 23', worm 23 and a worm gear 24: to a drive shaft 25 mounted in the cabinet. A drive chain 26 operates on a sprocket wheel 27 on shaft 25 and on asprocket wheel 28 on the shaft 14 which carries the pulleys 14 at the right Fig. 3. ,A gear 29 on the shaft 14' drives a gear 30. on shaft 31 which carries the pulley 13. Thus the belt 9 is caused to travel through the pistol ranges from left to right, Figs. 3 and 10 and the belt 10' is caused by the same mechanism to travel through the pistol ranges from right to left, Fig. 3. The gear is smaller than gear 29 which causes belt 9' and its targets to travel faster than belt 10'. The belts 9 and 16 are p ref erably made of leather and stretched to their limit before mounting on their pulleys so that they will have no slack in the pistol ranges'to obstruct the return of the pistol balls. I

I also provide agroup of other targets 32 which are adapted to rise and-fall in the pistol through the inclined support .8, these targets being positioned between the two sets of traveling targets Figs. 1', 4, Sand 13 and slits 32 are provided in the plate 8 for these targets. The slits or open;

ings 32' are just wide enough to admit the target when in upright position, and are lined with metal to preventwear, In the structure'shown there are two of these targets for each range.

' in dotted lines.

yv aremounted ona rocker bar 32 which is pivoted;

at 32" belowthe wood partition 3' so that as this bar is rocked the targets in one range will rise into the range above the support 8 as the targets in the other range disappear below said support, and vice versa. The bar 32" is rocked by the lever 38 which is pivoted at 33' at one end and has a pin and slot crank connection 33" with the sprocket 27 on the shaft 25. The other end of the lever 33 is, pivotally connected to a link 33" which extends to and is pivotally con nected to the rockerbar 32". The disappearing targets 32 may represent human heads, duck heads or smoking pipes. They are in the form of flat thinplates, Fig. 13, which are pivoted at 34 to upstanding arms 35' on the rocker bar, so that the targets may fall over when struck by the balls. against the inclined support 8, as shown Springs 35 fastened on the arms 35 ,bear against the pivoted ends of the targets and yieldingly hold them in upright position. As

- the fallen targets are drawn downwardly through the slits 32 by the rocker arm, they are restored to upright position. The supporting arms 35' slide in L-shaped brackets 35" fastened to the underside of the support 8. An oil soaked belt 100 32, which includesthe arms 35, the bar 32 and 1.05

the lever 33, is slightly inclinedforwardly from a vertical plane. The pivotal connection of the targets 32 to the arms 35 and the dispositionoi the springs 35 is such that the'targets are also supported in a plane slightly inclined forwardly from a vertical plane. This inclination tends to prevent the targets from inadvertently pivoting from upright position in the reciprocation of the targets with the arms35.

An automatic coin operated spring pistol 36 of any suitable description is pivotally mounted at 36' and 36" in an opening 37 in a face plate 37' on the front of'the cabinet. The pistol, by means a of its pivotal mountings on the face plate, can be swung vertically and laterally which makes it capable of universal adjustment within the range to aim at any of the targets. The muzzle of the v pistol projects into the cabinet and above the plate 7. This plate '7 is dished at the front and provided with an opening 38 to discharge the balls which travel down the inclined plate into a tray 39, Figs. 6, 8 and 9, which is mounted on the pistol and is sufficiently elongated to receivethe balls in any position to which the pistol is swung. The tray is pivotally mounted at 39 on the pistol body for vertical movement and a spring-39 yieldingly maintains the tray up against the underside of plate '7 regardless of the movement of the pistol. The bottom of the tray inclines to a depression it) to receive the balls. A tubular member 41 connects the tray with the body of the pistol and the balls roll'through this member'into the magazine of the pistol. More balls are pro-v vided than the magazine of the pistol will hold to provide for firing, and the tray provides a convenient receptacle'for receiving the balls so that they will notremain on the range and in the path of the ball being shot.

If a traveling target is hit by a ball it will fall down backward as far as the inclined support 8 will permit. In order to'upright fallen targets before they pass through the opening .16 I provide curved guides 412 adjacent certain of the openings 16. Fallen targets will ride against these guides and thereby be uprighted before 43,- Figs. 1 and 14, is mounted on each partition 15 and is provided with an opening 43' in front of a bell 44 also mounted on the partition 15. These targets are in range of the pistols and if a ball passes into the opening 43 'it will strike the bell and produce an audible sound. I The bells areplaced close enough to the targets to prevent the balls going through the openings 43'.

The coin mechanism of the pistol discharges the coin into a coin box 45, Figs. 2 and 6, for each pistol positioned in the bottom of the cabinet. A tubular chute 46 extends diagonally downward from the coin discharge opening of each pistol to a point above the respective coin receptacle 45 to discharge the coins into these receptacles. The upper ends of these tubular chutesare flared to insure the entrance of the coin in any position,

to which the pistols are swung. The coin receptacles 45 are preferably in the form of rectangular metal trays or pans which can be removed from their compartments to empty them. These coin trays are kept within a strong wooden box built within the cabinet. The cabinet has a hinged door 4'7 in its lower front wall through which access may be had to the coin trays. The wooden box has a top Wall 48, rear wall 49 and end walls 50, the bottom wall being formed by the bottom of the cabinet. A'central partition'5l divides the box into two compartments, one for each coin tray. The top wall has suitable diagonal openings for the coin chutes 46. The front wall of the box is formed by removable panels 52, one on each side of the central partition for each coin tray compartment. One end of these panels have tongues 53 which fit in corresponding grooves in the end wall of the box and the partition respectively. The other ends of the panels are provided with key operated locks 54, the bolts of which engage with suitable keepers in the end wall and central partition respectively. The panels also have tongues 55 at their lock-ends which engage shoulders formed on the central partition and end wall to prevent the panels from being forced inwardly. The bolts of the looks, when shot, prevent the panels from being forced outwardly. The box which contains the coin trays is made of very stout stock, as are also the movable front panels 52, and the panels fit snugly within the top, bottom, end walls and central partition of thebox so that they cannot be 'jimrnied. This construction provides a very effective means for preventing pilfering which is somewhat prevalent in connection with this class of coin operated machines. In order to gain entrance to both of the coin trays the culprit would have to force the locked cabinet door 4'7 and both of the removable panels.

Each pistol is provided with a counter or registering device which is mounted on the bracket 61 extended from the pistol body. This counter may be of any suitable type for the purpose. The

one shown in the drawings, Figs. 6 and 8, has

an operating arm 62 at its side which is rotatably mounted to swing through an arc and actuate the counting device. The pistol has a finger piece (not shown) which is pushed when a coin is placed in the coin slot and this finger piece operates to discharge the coin into the coin chute and to actuate the counter. A reciprocating bar 63 is operated longitudinally by this finger piece and this bar has an extension 64 having a slot 65 in which a lateral pin 66 on the coin arm 62 is positioned. The slot 65 is' straight for a ;considerable portion of its length so that the bar 15" of the cabinet. As shown in Figs. 3 and 10 tel with the opening 38 in all positions of the 63 can move a considerable extent without actuating the counterarm. The inner end 6'7 .of the" 'slot is upturned], at an" angle and 1 so propor-L tioned that it will operate the counter atthe endportion of the movementrof the bar 63. The relation of this angular slotportion 6'7 to the: arm of the counter is such that it swings the arm only such distance as necessary to-register one number on'the counter and makeitimpossible to overthrow the counter arm by violently oper-' ating the finger piece.

The pistol with its receiving tray and the counting device are all mounted upon thefaceplate 3'7 to form a unit which may vbe readily dethe surfaceof the front wall of the cabinet, and

a suitable opening 68 is provided in said cabinet .wall ,for the pistol unit. The rear or inner'side of the face plate has instanding lugs 6, Fig. 11, having holes which are engagedby the hooksor latches 70 for fastening the pistol unit in place; The latches 70 are pivoted at 71 on smallmetal' plates 71- on the inside of the cabinet wall, and have laterally turned handles '72'disposed in position so that they can be reached through the door opening 47. Thus the'pistol units can not be removed without the door 4'7 being open.

For shipping purposes I arrange to pack the pistolsin the bottom of the end compartments the partition wall 15which formsthe -compartment has a slot 73 into which one endof the face plate 37' is inserted. .The other end of the face plate rests on a'block 74 against which it is held by a pivoted latch 75. The buttof the pistol rests in'a groove formed between two blocks 75 on the bottom wall of the cabinet. The pistol pistol ranges which is desirable for simultaneous competitive shooting but the invention may be embodied in a single range machine or in a machine having more than two ranges. The pistols are mounted to swing vertically andhorizontally and can thereby be readily moved for aiming. The tray 39 is mounted on the pistol and moves 1 therewith, and it is of a size and shape to regispistol.

I have shown the invention in the accompanying drawings in a form satisfactory for accom-' plishing the desired results but the inventionmay be embodied in other forms and constructions and modified as required to meet different conditions and I reserve the right to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the fol,- lowing claims: I v

I claim:

1. The combination of a cabinet having a pistol adapted to be projected above and withdrawn below said floor, a rocker slightly inclined forwardly from a vertical plane, means pivotally range therein, a floor for said range, targets oonnecting-the'lower end of said targets to said rocker, means on said rocker and engaging said targets adjacent the pivotal connection thereof to align said-targets with said rocker tobe slightlyinclined forwardly from a vertical plane, and means for operating said rocker. f

2. The combination ofa cabinet having a pistol range therein, a floor member for said range having openings therein, targets in said openings adapted to be projected above and withdrawn below the floor, meanspivotally supporting the targets permitting them to fall when they are above the floor, and means for projecting said targets through said openings and above said floor and for withdrawing said targets through said openings and below said floor whereby any fallen targets are uprighted while passing through said openings by engagement thereof with edges of the openings as they are withdrawn.

3. The combination of a cabinet having a pis tol range therein, an inclined floor member for.

said range having openings therein, targets in said openings'adapted to be projected above and withdrawn below the floor, l ans pivotaily sup portingthe targets permitting them to fall when they are above the floor, a rocker bar beneath the floor on which the targets are mounted, a driving motor in the cabinct,a crank driven by said motor, and a link connecting the crank with c said rocker bar to operate the bar.

4. The combination or a cabinet having a partition therein to divide the cabinet into two pistol ranges, a floor member for said ranges having openings therein on each side of the partition, a rocker bar extending beneath the openings on both sides of said partition, targets pivotaiiy mounted on said bar and positioned in said openings, said targets being adapted to be restored to upright position by contact with the edges of said openings as they are withdrawn into said openings, and means for operating the rocker bar to raise and lower the targets. 1 1

5. The combination of a cabinet having a pistol range therein, a floor for the range having target ope'ningstherein, a rocker bar having upright arms vertically movable in said openings; guides for said arms beneath the floor, packing lubricant for the arms supported by the guides, and targets pivotally mounted on the upper ends of said armswhich are projected above and withdrawn below the floor by said rocker bar. 1

6. In an amusement machine which has an inclined plate, target means on said inclined plate and including endless belts having targets thereon, said target means also including reciprocal targets, said inclined plate having openings-therein through which saidireoiprocal targets may operate, a roeker, means connecting said reciprocal targets to said rocker for movement therewith whereby said reciprocal targets are projected through said openings to project above said inclined plate and are withdrawn below said inclined plate, the combination therewith of an operating mechanism including a drive shaft, means connecting said drive shaft to one of said endless belts, means connecting the other of said endless belts to the belt connected to the drive shaft and including portions operating one of said belts at a higher rate of speed than the other of 

